11th candidate enters jam-packed 3rd Congressional District race

The race to succeed Congressman Dwight Evans is packed with candidates, and more keep signing up to run.

Entrant number 11 is Isaiah Martin, a 25-year-old real estate developer and executive director of Empowered CDC, which runs community programs in Southwest and southern West Philadelphia, including parts of Evans’ 3rd Congressional District. 

Martin announced his candidacy Sunday, saying he’s running to be “a voice for the voiceless, a voice for the people who have been forgotten. A voice to hold the government and this administration accountable, and to deliver real results to our people.”

He was preceded by Pablo McConnie-Saad, a Bella Vista resident and former U.S. Treasury Department advisor in the Biden administration who worked on implementing the clean energy tax credits in the Inflation Reduction Act.

McConnie-Saad announced Oct. 28. He said he wants to “fix a corrupt system,” which means “dismantling the political patronage system, banning members of Congress from trading stocks, and fighting every attempt to cut health care and the social safety net to pay for tax cuts for the rich.”

The two first-time candidates join a bulging roster of experienced elected officials and political newbies hoping to replace Evans, who plans to step down in 2026 after serving in Congress for 10 years and before that as a state rep for 36 years.

Pols, doctors, and computer scientists

Pennsylvania’s 3rd Congressional District covers about half of the city, including West Philadelphia, parts of North Philadelphia, much of Center City and part of South Philadelphia. It’s rated the most Democratic district in the country. No Republicans are expected to run, and the winner will likely be decided by the Democratic primary on May 19.

The elected officials running are state Sen. Sharif Street, a former state Democratic party chair and son of former Philadelphia mayor John Street; state Rep. Chris Rabb of Northwest Philly, who is known for his very progressive views; and state Rep. Morgan Cephas of West Philly. They’ve all been serving in the statehouse since 2017.

The best known of the newcomers is Ala Stanford, a pediatric surgeon and former federal health official who won acclaim for bringing COVID testing to Black residents during the pandemic. Evans recruited her to run and endorsed her, and she’s reportedly in the process of moving back to Philadelphia from Montgomery County.

Another physician in the race is Dave Oxman, an intensive care doctor at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital and Bella Vista resident. Also running are Temple University computer science professor Karl Morris, former city employee Robin Toldens, software engineer Cole Carter, and candidate Gabriel Caceres.

An early poll conducted in August, before many of them had declared, suggested the race was pretty wide open. After voters were read biographies of the candidates, 18% of those surveyed favored Stanford, while Street and Rabb each got 17% and Cephas 9%.  

Given that it’s a very left-leaning district, the candidates have similar views and priorities, and policy differences won’t make much difference in the primary outcome, political consultants told Billy Penn. Instead, name recognition, fundraising and campaign discipline will help determine who achieves what could be a narrow margin of victory.

Fundraising begins

Looking at the money race, Oxman has so far reported the most donations this year, with $389,000 received — including $100,000 he loaned his campaign — and about $332,000 in the bank as of Sept. 30. Street had raised $352,000, and including funds transferred from a previous campaign account, had $372,000 cash on hand.

Rabb brought in $257,000 and spent a chunk of it on consulting, advertising and other expenses, leaving him with $181,000. Cephas raised about $156,000 and had $119,000. Morris collected $38,000 in contributions and had $12,000 left. 

Stanford, who entered the race on Oct. 1, and the other candidates have yet to file campaign finance reports, although McConnie-Saad said last month that he received more than $100,000 after declaring his candidacy.

While Stanford has the backing of Evans and, presumedly, some of those who have supported him in the past, Street appears to be ahead in the contest for mainline party endorsements.

The state senator is supported by the Building and Construction Trades Council, a big-spending group of 30-plus unions, and city Democratic chair Bob Brady told the Inquirer he expected Street to win the party’s endorsement later this year. Street also touts endorsements from current and former councilmembers, gun violence advocates, and leaders of LGBTQ+ organizations.

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